I knew when Sophia told me she wanted to invite her whole class to her party that it would be tough. I mean, that’s a lot of prep. That’s a lot of goodie bags (when did that little custom start, anyhow?). That’s a lot of presents.
A lot of presents.
And kids’ presents! It’s ridiculous how much packaging they have! Sophia had what, 16 people at her party, about 16 presents? We filled two dark green garbage bags with the packaging.
Another little custom I didn’t now about: drop-offs. As in, the parents drop their kids off…and then leave. Wish I’d known about that before ordering enough pizza for the kids and the adults (oops), plus enough cake for the kids and adults (double, triple oops). And we have little teeny refrigerator with tons of pizza in it. Pizza for days! Whoo hoo! It’s like off-campus living!
Anyhow: we are wiped. Darin and Simon didn’t even come to Sophia’s party: he took Simon to another birthday party.
I think this is why you’re supposed to have kids as a fresh-faced 20-year-old: you have the energy for this stuff. Fifteen years on you don’t have quite the same energy for it.
So far my son has been perfectly content to have birthday “parties” that consist solely of Mommy, Daddy and himself, with the occasional appearance by Grandma. I, too, wonder exactly how I’m going to deal with the eventual presence of many children, all of them hyped up on the combined stimulants of sugar and celebration.
We did goodie bags, but not at every party when I was a kid, both in Europe and here in the States in the early to mid-80s.
I’m not sure when they became de rigeur though. Vic is constantly bringing home sweets and treates from parties held at school.
I distinctly recall only bringing in a sheet cake or cupcakes to share on my birthday for class parties.
I am not planning on doing any goodie bags myself for Vic’s 3rd birthday which is coming up right quick – though I may buy one or two little party favors this time.